Dr. DeSteno’s research centers on the role of emotion in social cognition and social behavior. His lab takes a multilevel and multiprocess approach to examining the psychological functions, phenomenologies, and sequelae that are associated with discrete emotional states. Current projects focus on the effects of emotions on several types of social judgment (e.g., moral decision making, risk assessment, prejudice) as well as on behaviors fundamental to social living (e.g., trust and cooperation, prosocial action, organizational behavior, altruism, aggression).

Psychology professor David DeSteno wrote an article titled, “The Connection Between Pride and Persistence” for the Harvard Business Review. In it he evaluates the connection between an employee receiving praise and their work ethic moving forward.

“It’s an established fact that our sense of whether a person’s actions are morally correct doesn’t solely depend on the objective facts. It also depends on our links to the person in question.” Psychology professor David DeSteno takes a look at the trust Patriots Nation has in Tom Brady.